Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlskrona and Malmo Cost of Living Comparison Between Karlskrona and Malmo

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,768 per month in Karlskrona vs $2,047 in Malmo, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,652 per month in Karlskrona vs $3,170 in Malmo, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,535 per month in Karlskrona vs $4,292 in Malmo, rent included.

Karlskrona is about 14% cheaper than Malmo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Karlskrona and Malmo sit above the global median – Karlskrona by 32%, Malmo by 53%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.32 SEK 124
$13.48 SEK 126
-1.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.1 SEK 645
$85.6 SEK 799
-19.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.22 SEK 86.0
$12.67 SEK 118
-27.23%
Cappuccino
$3.98 SEK 37.16
$5.05 SEK 47.16
-21.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 SEK 13.48
$2.69 SEK 25.07
-46.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 SEK 23.44
$2.15 SEK 20.07
16.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.21 SEK 67.3
$8.00 SEK 74.7
-9.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.33 SEK 49.78
$8.20 SEK 76.5
-35.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 SEK 14.88
$1.67 SEK 15.62
-4.19%
White Bread (500g)
$2.84 SEK 26.45
$3.11 SEK 28.99
-8.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.84 SEK 35.80
$3.61 SEK 33.71
6.37%
Eggs
$4.07 SEK 38.01
$4.42 SEK 41.22
-7.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.49 SEK 107
$12.05 SEK 112
-4.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.95 SEK 111
$12.78 SEK 119
-6.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.94 SEK 149
$27.50 SEK 257
-42.04%
Apples (1kg)
$3.23 SEK 30.13
$3.27 SEK 30.49
-1.22%
Banana (1kg)
$2.43 SEK 22.69
$2.78 SEK 25.94
-12.59%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.21 SEK 29.96
$3.24 SEK 30.25
-0.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.64 SEK 43.31
$4.79 SEK 44.68
-3.13%
Potato (1kg)
$1.51 SEK 14.07
$1.83 SEK 17.07
-17.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.60 SEK 14.88
$1.95 SEK 18.22
-17.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.22 SEK 20.69
$2.57 SEK 23.98
-13.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.45 SEK 13.49
$1.34 SEK 12.50
8.21%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.48 SEK 69.8
$8.13 SEK 75.9
-8.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.48 SEK 126
$12.10 SEK 113
11.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 SEK 19.59
$2.53 SEK 23.59
-17.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 SEK 16.55
$2.66 SEK 24.80
-33.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.03 SEK 28.24
$3.36 SEK 31.37
-9.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.2 SEK 608
$69.3 SEK 647
-5.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$14.57 SEK 136
$6.44 SEK 60.1
126.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.66 SEK 15.47
$2.64 SEK 24.63
-37.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.00 SEK 196
$56.2 SEK 524
-62.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 SEK 17.49
$1.92 SEK 17.92
-2.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.1K SEK 308.6K
$33.1K SEK 308.6K
-0.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K SEK 317.7K
$33.8K SEK 315.3K
0.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.3 SEK 497
$154 SEK 1,433
-65.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.37 SEK 265
$30.36 SEK 283
-6.55%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.87 SEK 344
$40.38 SEK 377
-8.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.31 SEK 404
$38.30 SEK 357
13.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.03 SEK 224
$23.78 SEK 222
1.05%
Cinema Ticket
$17.05 SEK 159
$17.81 SEK 166
-4.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$146 SEK 1,358
$162 SEK 1,508
-9.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$753 SEK 7,026
$4,876 SEK 45.5K
-84.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104 SEK 967
$105 SEK 977
-0.97%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$20.86 SEK 195
$45.70 SEK 426
-54.35%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.2 SEK 795
$124 SEK 1,159
-31.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154 SEK 1,434
$165 SEK 1,542
-7.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$716 SEK 6,679
$932 SEK 8,693
-23.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$690 SEK 6,435
$773 SEK 7,215
-10.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,149 SEK 10.7K
$1,721 SEK 16.1K
-33.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,002 SEK 9,348
$1,343 SEK 12.5K
-25.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,141 SEK 29.3K
$4,311 SEK 40.2K
-27.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,664 SEK 24.9K
$3,360 SEK 31.3K
-20.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karlskrona
Malmo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,640 SEK 24.6K
$3,353 SEK 31.3K
-21.25%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.7
4.86
-3.29%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Karlskrona: May 30, 2026

Last update for Malmo: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Karlskrona versus $932 in Malmo. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 27% higher in Malmo, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Karlskrona versus $86.0 in Malmo. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $360 vs $410 – making Karlskrona the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Karlskrona vs Malmo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Malmo cheaper than Karlskrona?
Yes – Malmo is pricier by about 16%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,652 per month in Karlskrona and $3,071 in Malmo. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karlskrona, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Karlskrona or Malmo?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $69.0 in Karlskrona and $86.0 in Malmo. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Karlskrona vs Malmo?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,768 in Karlskrona and $2,047 in Malmo. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Karlskrona or Malmo?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Karlskrona, where all-in costs run around $1,768, than in Malmo at $2,047. In Karlskrona it covers expenses comfortably, while in Malmo it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Karlskrona or Malmo more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Karlskrona – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Karlskrona or Malmo?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Karlskrona. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Malmo makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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